What Conditions Can Be Treated with a Defibrillator?

The heart’s rhythm, generally maintained at 60-100 beats per minute, is called rhythm. Arrhythmias arise when these electrical impulses fail to fire correctly, causing the heart to beat too slowly, rapidly, or irregularly. A deadly kind, V-fib, causes the bottom chambers of the heart to tremble instead of pumping blood, which can result in sudden collapse and death. A defibrillator prevents cardiac arrhythmias by delivering a regulated electrical impulse to the heart before it stops beating altogether. Defibrillators are essential and influential in numerous medical situations. This article will cover how defibrillators work and what conditions can be treated with a defibrillator in the German Heart Centre Dubai.

Types of Defibrillation:

Defibrillators are classified into five types:

1. External automated defibrillators: AEDs treat cardiac arrest in the first few minutes with electric pulses. The electrode pads detect anomalies once fastened on. AEDs detect ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia. If the machine detects abnormal cardiac rhythm, it shocks the patient to restore pulse.

2. Advanced life support Defibrillators: Medical and paramedics employ heavy-duty advanced life support defibrillators. Technicians shocked patients using paddles in older ALS defibrillators.

3. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are medical devices implanted beneath a patient’s collarbone and administer an electric shock to the heart if irregular heartbeats are detected.

4. Manual external defibrillators: Manual external defibrillators are medical devices trained technicians use to administer shocks on their own time, unlike automatic machines like AEDs. They are typically connected to an ECG for medical professionals to monitor heart activity.

5. Wearable Defibrillators: Wearable defibrillators (WCDs) are vests that automatically administer shocks to patients with ventricular arrhythmia, restoring their heartbeat without needing medical intervention making them a removable version of an ICD.

Each type of defibrillator operates under different settings. Each device, when combined, functions as a toolbox of emergency response tools, saving countless lives.

How Defibrillators Work?

After the heart has undergone potentially catastrophic aberrant cardiac rhythms like ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, a defibrillator can deliver an electric shock to the heart to return it to normal rhythm. These arrhythmias occur in the ventricles or lower chambers of the heart. While hospital or automated external defibrillators can assist patients suffering from cardiac arrhythmias, those at high risk may require their own defibrillator. A defibrillator treats cardiac arrhythmias by delivering a regulated electrical impulse that restores the heart’s normal rhythm before it stops completely.

Who needs defibrillation?

Defibrillation may be necessary in the cases of the arrhythmia above types. Someone can assist them if they are in a hospital or a location with an automated external defibrillator. However, a defibrillator must be carried at all times by those who are at high risk of a potentially fatal heart rhythm.

Life-Threatening Situations:

• Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) is a type of heart arrhythmia: VF is a chaotic, fast heartbeat that impairs the heart’s capacity to adequately pump blood. This part will go over the concept of VF, its direct impact on the heart, and the severe consequences it can have on people.
• VT is an abbreviation for Ventricular Tachycardia. If left untreated, VT, which is characterized by rapid, regular beating of the heart’s ventricles, can result in cardiac arrest. This section will give you an outline of VT and its possible implications.

Defibrillators for personal use:

• It’s possible that the shock from a personal defibrillator won’t hurt at all or that it will feel like someone wrenched your chest.
• These types of defibrillators may be used on people who are at high risk for a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm.
• An implantable cardioverter defibrillator is often known as an ICD.
• A wearable cardioverter defibrillator, which is similar to a vest and is worn beneath clothing.
• A defibrillator can deliver an electric shock to the heart if it detects a potentially lethal rhythm, which functions similarly to the capabilities of a pacemaker to maintain the heart beating regularly.

Conclusion:

Monitoring and treating heart conditions with the help of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. When abnormal heartbeats occur, the ICD administers treatment to the patients. The German Heart Centre carry out a variety of functions, including pacing for patients with mild ventricular rhythm problems, cardioversion for patients with rapid heartbeats, defibrillation for patients with ventricular fibrillation, and functioning as a pacemaker for patients whose heartbeats are too slow. Pacing signals can be sent to normalize the heart’s rhythm; cardioversion sends a moderate shock to halt rapid heartbeats; defibrillation sends a more powerful shock to stop and normalize the heart’s rhythm. For a complete follow ups, book your appointment now.